In 1982 the Kangaroos came to the UK and made history. They were both the first Australian side to win the Ashes series 3-0 and go through a tour undefeated, winning 22 matches in a row and averaging 45.6 points per game. They dazzled the English public not just with their skill, speed and size, but their pure footballing brilliance. Historians and authors have written that they “changed rugby forever”. They were rugby league gods.
Fast forward 43 years and swap Mal Meninga, Wally Lewis and Peter Sterling for Reece Walsh, Cameron Munster and Nathan Cleary. Yes, these modern-day Aussies haven’t dominated anywhere near the same extravagant fashion as their predecessors four decades ago. Yes, this green and gold side isn’t as stacked in every position as the Kangaroos were back then. You could safely argue no team has ever been. But they still return home with a 3-0 whitewash and having won hearts and minds on and off the field, winning plaudits for their engagement with fans and media in England.
